Hederick the theocrat

DRAGONLANCE Villains Volume HEDERICK THE THEOCRAT by Ellen Dodge Severson This book is lovingly dedicated to the memory of William Olm and Max Earl Porath Prologue Astinus, leader of the Order of Aesthetics, surveyed the three apprentice scribes before him The historian's face, as usual, wore the expression of a man taken unwillingly from his beloved work for something annoyingly trivial The three scribes, a middle-aged woman and two younger men, shifted from foot to foot beneath his gaze and darted cautious glances at each other Each was sure the other two possessed extraordinary training and expertise Each was sure that it was his or her mere presence in the Great Library ofPalanthas that had brought the dissatisfied gleam to Astinus's eyes They all were convinced that their own appointments as apprentices to the premier historian on Krynn would soon be found to be a mistake All that work, all those years of preparation and study, would be found inadequate They were unworthy Each steeled for disappointment, afraid of being sent home in humiliation to become a store clerk or street vendor In truth, Astinus was not annoyed with the apprentices but merely anxious to be back at work, writing down the history of Krynn as it occurred Even as he stood here assessing the guarded expressions of these three, details of fact were going unrecorded in the scrolls of the Great Library It was difficult to catch up once one was behind, as Astinus knew only too well; it was almost better to skip what one had missed in one's absence and go on to pen whatever was happening at the moment Unlike the other scribes, who worked in shifts, Astinus had never been known to sleep or to step away from his work for more than a few minutes There were some among his helpers who whispered that Astinus was no mortal, for hadn't his name been found upon scrolls dating back thousands of years? Unless, they speculated, every chief historian's name, since the beginning of time, had been Astinus Actually, Astinus was well-pleased with this crop of apprentices These three, however they quailed before him now, had come on the highest recommendations of Astinus's far-flung advisers They needed only seasoning, he'd been told, before they could take their places among Astinus's dozens of assistants in the Order of Aesthetics What was needed was a task that would test their ability to cooperate as well as to chronicle history, Astinus thought as the three suffered silently before him It must be something, of course, that the historian could check for accuracy against his own knowledge of events as they unfolded He narrowed his eyes and nodded as he surveyed the trio "Hederick," he murmured "That's it." The scribes exchanged more glances, each wondering which of the others was named Hederick "Sir?" the middle-aged woman finally ventured She had the pale ashen complexion common among those who spent their lives prowling through the dimly lit corridors of libraries She was of medium height and average build and wore her brown hair gathered with a simple length of blue yarn at the nape of her neck She wore the same type of sleeveless, togalike outfit that the other two wore—indeed, that Astinus himself wore "Sir," she said again hesitantly, "is there something we ?" The remaining two apprentices lost no time interrupting the woman's query In this competition for a coveted position in the Great Library ofPalanthas, none wanted to be left at the starting line "You have a task for us, master?" broke in the younger of the two men, a tall, red-haired youth with creamy skin, copious freckles, and blue eyes "We stand waiting to serve you," interjected the other man He had eyes as black as his curly hair and skin the color of cinnamon, marking a sharp contrast to the youth beside him Suddenly, all three apprentices were speaking at once A new frown descended over Astinus's already stern features, and the three apprentices faltered in their chatter "You are delaying me," Astinus declared in irritation "Give me your names, quickly, that I may sort you out and assign you tasks And be brisk about it." "Marya," replied the woman "Olven," the dark-haired man said proudly "Eban," the redheaded youth answered last "Fine," Astinus said, noting their names for inclusion in his history of the Great Library "Your task, then, is this: to chronicle the doings of a man named Hederick, recently named High Theocrat of Solace I believe the scheming of this man will someday have great import in Krynn." His penetrating stare raked the three aspiring historians "First you will research Hederick's past and set it out You, Eban, will take charge of that." The youth stood up straighter and cast a triumphant look toward the other two Astinus went on, "All of you are students enough to grasp that without knowing a man or woman's past, it is impossible to understand that person's present." "Oh, yes," said Eban "Certainly," Marya chimed "Without a doubt," Olven added "You two"—Astinus thrust his chin at Marya and Olven— "will concentrate on recording the present exploits of High Theocrat Hederick." He pointed to a wooden desk in the corner of the library "One of you—and you, too, Eban, when you complete your research—will be seated at that desk at all times, day or night This spot must never be empty." Three pairs of eyes widened, but the historian continued speaking regardless of their surprise "History occurs in times of darkness as well as at noon, as you all know Even now, events are sweeping on unrecorded as you dally here." Eban gasped and swept up a scrap of parchment and a quill pen from a counter He scurried between two stacks of books and was gone Astinus marked the red-haired youth's industry Surely the background material would be ready soon at that pace, he thought with satisfaction Astinus made his way to the door of the Great Library "I leave it to you to decide how you will divide the day," he said over his shoulder to Marya and Olven "Whoever is not recording currently transpiring events should help Eban with his research, for that must go first in your written account, of course Now I must return to my tasks." "Ah sir?" Olven said quickly "A question? Quickly?" Astinus halted, his hand on the doorjamb Olven cleared his throat and looked embarrassed "How will we know what's happening now, so that we may record it?" the man asked "After all, it hasn't been written down anywhere yet," Marya added helpfully "And it appears that you want us to stay here In the library, I mean." Astinus, expressionless, gazed at the two for a long, silent moment, then the briefest of smiles crossed the historian's face "Sit at the desk," the historian said "You will see, soon enough If you are meant to work here." Then he was gone Marya looked at Olven, who gazed back at her They both swiveled about to thoughtfully survey the padded chair drawn up before the desk "It looks ordinary enough," Marya said in a small voice Just a chair Olven nodded "Magic, you think?" he whispered "Has Astinus ensorceled us without our knowledge?" Marya shrugged, but swallowed twice before going on Maybe You go first." Olven bit his lips, took a deep breath, and slid into the chair Chapter The scream invaded Hederick's very bones and blood, coming from nowhere and everywhere The sound reverberated again Hederick raced across the prairie toward a grove of trees, where his sister Ancilla had hidden ten years earlier He was still quite a distance away—too far, by the god Tiolanthe! Feet pounded behind him, and with them, thunderclap after thunderclap from the approaching storm Time after time, Hederick stamped on jagged rocks and stumbled over upthrust roots Bloodstained footprints marked his passage Then trees loomed Hederick dove into Ancilla's Copse as though it were a church and Hederick a penitent—as though whatever tracked him dared not enter such a holy place His lungs burned His ribs ached The boy landed facedown in soft dampness and tensed for the cry that would tell him the creature was upon him But there was silence; only an intermittent popping sound broke the hush of the glade Hederick sat up warily and peered around in the flickering light Large trees with rough bark towered over him, interspersed with saplings that thrust upward through the ferns The rich smell of hickory mingled with the odors of fragrant moss and moist soil Surrounded by dark shapes that seemed to dance in the wind of the approaching storm, the boy fearfully scanned one shadow after another The yellow eyes of a gigantic lynx glared at him The dappled brown beast was easily ten feet from nose to bobbed tail The great cat crouched fifteen feet above him, wedged in the crotch of a tree Its eyes were enormous, forelegs heavy, padded feet huge Thunder shattered The lynx and Hederick screamed at the same instant "Begone!" A sword appeared above the boy, interposed between his crouching body and the giant predator Red light played on the weapon's edge A gauntleted hand grasped the hilt; an arm corded with muscular sinew held the blade steady Hederick sat, powerless with fear The lynx screamed again, and the hand tightened on the hilt "Leave us, cat!" came that same booming voice The lynx tensed to spring, and the man swore fervently, invoking gods Hederick had never heard of Just as the giant feline leaped, the man's other hand swept up, raising a flaming torch Light exploded Red and yellow sparks burned pinpricks into the ferns The lynx twisted away in midleap and crashed through a maple sapling and onto the ground off to one side The man dropped the torch and whirled to meet the cat, sword ready, his body between the boy and the lynx Then Hederick was up His left hand caught up the sputtering torch from the wet moss, and he ran to the man's side, bellowing a battle cry Hederick threw anything and everything his right hand could grasp Rocks, branches, leaves, mud, moss—all were hurtled toward the snarling lynx His tall rescuer remained poised with his sword "By the New Gods, the boy's feisty!" the man said The only thing left was the torch; Hederick prepared to throw that as well The man swore again, fumbled at his belt, and tossed something at the cat just as the boy released the fiery brand Another explosion of scarlet and topaz flashed through the trees Bigger and louder than the last, it knocked Hederick flat on his back When the smoke cleared, there was no sign of the lynx "Did we kill it?" Hederick could barely get the words out His tongue seemed stuck to the roof of his mouth The man sheathed his sword and laughed uproariously, then shook his head "By the New Gods, that pussycat must be halfway to the Garnet Mountains by now! If her feet touch the ground every six furlongs, if 11 be a miracle." Hederick shook uncontrollably Blood streamed into his eyes from a cut on his forehead "It's still out there?" he wailed "It's not dead?" "Not dead, lad, but she won't be coming back here soon." The man extended a hand to help the boy up Hed-erick's knees shook so that he could barely stand "I can't imagine what the she-cat was doing so far from the Garnets," the man mused, "but who knows how great a distance the creatures travel to hunt? Perhaps she sought food for kits." "But it was hunting me!" Hederick shrieked The man shrugged "You escaped." Wordless, Hederick studied his rescuer The man couldn't have been much more than twenty His face was long, with a dark beard neatly trimmed to a point and gray eyes that seemed both humorous and kind A rough brown robe stretched to cover powerful shoulders The man submitted to Hederick's frank inspection without embarrassment "By Ferae, you're a small one! How old are you? Eight? Nine?" "Twelve," Hederick muttered "Your name, son?" "Hederick." "I'm Tarscenian," the man said "Let me invite you to supper, young Hederick." Tarscenian placed a strong arm about the boy's still trembling shoulders and guided him deeper into the grove, where a small campfire blazed cheerily The fire popped as they approached, the sound Hederick had heard as he entered the copse Tarscenian urged the boy to sit against a fallen log and handed him a wooden trencher Three pieces of meat swam in greasy juice "You can dine like a theocrat on fresh roast rabbit," Tarscenian said, "and then tell me how in the name of the Lesser Pantheon you ended up alone in the middle of nowhere." Soon Hederick had all but licked the trencher clean The hare's picked bones blackened in the fire Tarscenian lounged on a blanket across from the boy, watching with amazement "Whatever you take on, lad, whether it's lynxes or supper, you certainly it wholeheartedly," he commented Hederick bristled The man had offered him dinner What was he supposed to do—admire it until it congealed? The man laughed and held up his hand "Calm down, lad I mean you no insult You showed more spirit in facing that she-lynx than many full-grown men would have." Mollified, Hederick leaned back against the log, regarding his rescuer with awe Tarscenian was a far cry from the men of Hederick's isolated home village of Garlund The young man's eyes glittered with life, his gaze was direct, and his movements vigorous If the god Tiolanthe ever took human form, he would look like Tarscenian, Hederick decided "So, Hederick, what were you doing alone on the prairie in the dark of night?" the stranger asked "Assuming that you weren't hunting lynxes, that is." Tarscenian listened with growing astonishment to the boy's story Hederick told him about his mother and father, Venessi and Con, who, after walking for weeks due east from their home city of Caergoth, had founded the village of Garlund just south of Ancilla's Copse Their purpose was to provide a place where they and their followers could worship Tiolanthe, the god that regularly appeared to Venessi and Con, but only to them Then Hederick had been born, the first baby delivered in the new village Two years later, when Con disagreed with Venessi over some matter of Tiolanthean doctrine, Hederick's mother had ordered the people of the village to kill her husband Hederick's sister Ancilla, fifteen years his senior, had fled Garlund moments after Con's death "She promised to return for me, but she never did," Hederick said simply Tarscenian interrupted only once—when the storm broke and the pair took shelter under oiled canvas stretched from tree to tree Each sat wrapped in a gray woolen blanket that smelled of incense and horsehair Hederick talked until he could barely put words together, he was so sleepy "And now I've been banished," Hederick said, "by Venessi." "Your mother sent a twelve-year-old into the prairie alone at night?" Tarscenian demanded with a frown "I must learn humility, she said," Hederick explained, his words slurring "And then the lynx came after me, and I ran to the only place I could think of—Ancilla's Copse This is where Ancilla hid when she left Garlund, when I was two." "You must not remember very much about this sister," Tarscenian said sympathetically "Oh, no!" Hederick exclaimed, shaking himself awake "I remember her well She had eyes as green as grass, and she was pretty—oh, so pretty, Tarscenian She knew all about plants and herbs and things, and when Con beat me for sinning, she would give me things to take away the pain Ancilla was wonderful." "But then she left." Hederick's face fell, and he nodded "She was afraid the villagers would kill her as they had killed our father So she left And then she forgot all about me I I guess I was too sinful to come back for." He remembered the night before Ancilla had left For some minor infraction, Con had beaten young Hederick mercilessly Ancilla, achingly beautiful at seventeen, defended him and treated his wounds Hederick had begged her to stay with him "You won't ever stop being my sister, will you?" he'd cried "Close your eyes, little brother," Ancilla had answered, rocking him by the fire The little boy, safe in the comfort of his sister's arms, resisted sleep She murmured words Hederick had never heard before, tenderly stroking his face and wispy reddish-brown hair She fed him cold tea from a spoon, and when he tried to speak again, covered his mouth with a gentle hand and hushed him Once she rearranged the blanket to cover Hederick's feet, then she spoke fiercely "I promise you this, little Hederick: I will always be your sister / will never hurt you I will protect you with every power I have I will all I can, even from afar, to keep Con and Venessi from turning you into into what they are You need never fear me That I vow." That memory was too holy to share with this stranger, however And besides, Hederick was so tired; he felt himself sinking into sleep Then Tarscenian's voice roused him "This village of yours, is it large?" the stranger asked "Large and wealthy?" Hederick shook himself awake "Sixty people, maybe." "Prosperous?" the man asked "Venessi has plenty of food stored in the barns, but the people don't know that They're restricted to two meals a day No one in the village is well-fed except my mother, but she's in Tiolanthe's graces Other than the food, there's nothing but a few candlesticks in the prayer house, and some icons." "Steel icons?" Tarscenian asked quickly Since the Cataclysm, steel had been the most precious metal on Krynn Hederick nodded Tarscenian didn't speak for a while, and Hederick thought he'd fallen asleep The boy had nearly followed suit when the man's deep voice resounded again "Lad," he said, "I believe it's time for me to rest in my travels And it's time the people of Garlund learn about some new gods." Hederick jerked upright, bumping the oiled canvas and sending a splash of cold water down his left leg "New gods?" Tarscenian smiled impishly and extended his blanket to cover the boy's soaked leg "You've not asked me about myself, lad." The man had rescued Hederick from a lynx and given him dinner and listened to his long tales Wasn't that enough to know about someone? "You're a trader," Hederick said "Or a mercenary." "I'm a Seeker priest." A priest! Hederick struggled to his knees The blankets snared him around the ankles, and he tore at them with clumsy fingers He didn't know what a Seeker was, but no matter The man was a heathen and a priest! "I speak for the New Gods, son." "No!" Hederick shouted angrily, feeling betrayed by the man he'd begun to think of as a hero "There is only one god The Old Gods deserted us in the Cataclysm, and every god since then is just pretend, except for Tiolanthe He speaks to my mother And I'm not your son, you fraud." Tears streamed down his cheeks Tarscenian carefully gauged the boy's heated denial Some of the friendliness left the gray eyes "Who you think saved us from the she-lynx, Hederick? Who frightened her off me? You and your clods of moss? Some higher power? Or this Tiolanthe—while we're speaking of frauds?" Hederick refused to look at him "You did," he said sulkily "You had the sword." Tarscenian cocked his head "My blade never touched the lynx, son And what about the explosions?" Hederick had no answer Tarscenian's hand locked around the boy's thin wrist, pulling him near "The New Gods interceded, Hederick," the priest said gently "Can your mother that, by calling on her god? Can this Tiolanthe himself, for that matter?" "N-no," Hederick mumbled "Well, then, perhaps the New Gods have a plan for you, son." Tarscenian's voice grew insinuating "Perhaps I'm a part of that plan Who are we to question the will of the gods?" Hederick risked an upward glance Tarscenian's gray eyes were direct; the friendliness was back And yet "What you take me for, a fool?" Hederick exclaimed suddenly "I'm no part of a plan _" He crawled out from under the canvas Tarscenian surprised him by letting him go-Rain lashed at the boy, and in moments he was soaked A few steps away, the campfire still flickered under a scrap of suspended canvas, but Hederick was determined not to return to Tarscenian's sanctuary Lightning erupted Thunder crashed through the trees "Where will you go, lad?" "Home!" Hederick said desperately "My my mother will be worrying about me in this storm." Tarscenian said nothing for a few moments Hederick's words between them "From the sounds of it, lad, your mother worries about no one but herself," the Seeker priest finally said "She'll not take you back if you return to Garlund so soon, you know She wants you to suffer You're being made an example She craves the power, and you're a threat to her None of the other villagers has the spunk to take her on, is my guess." "She's my mother," Hederick whispered "You've never met her What would you know?" The priest laughed "I've met hundreds like your mother, Hederick—men as well as women I'm a priest I run into all sorts of troubled souls who think they've reinvented the gods." He sighed, then failed to suppress a yawn "I'll take you home in the morning, Hederick I believe I can make things right with your mother Why not trust me, at least for now? I'd hardly snatch you from a lynx's jaws to devour you myself, son." Still Hederick hesitated "You'll take me back?" He imagined the villagers' faces when he strode back into Garlund with this sword-wielding, towering heretic "Tomorrow?" "If you wish." Hederick crouched to peer under the wide canopy The rain streamed down his back "Early?" "At dawn, if you want." A smile creased Tarscenian's face "Lad, I'm bone-weary I walked many miles today I did battle with a giant cat and, what's far more daunting, locked horns with a stubborn twelve-year-old The New Gods will watch over us tonight, Hederick I must sleep now, son, and I won't be able to if I must worry about you wandering off in the rain You'll be prey to every creature and lung ailment on the prairie." He yawned hugely "Make your choice, lad Truce?" "All right," Hederick finally said "But I'll listen to nothing more about New Gods." "For the night, anyway Good enough." Hederick crawled back into the shelter, dribbling rainwater like a sodden kitten Stripping off his wet clothes, he accepted Tarscenian's spare shirt, so huge that the sleeves fell past his fingertips Dry again, Hederick curled up in his blanket The priest, already snoring, exuded heat like a hearth even though he'd relinquished both blankets Hederick was asleep in seconds * * * * * The boy saw Garlund as though through Tarscenian's eyes as they approached it early the next day, Hederick perched on the big man's shoulders The village rose from the lush prairie like an abscess Hungry-looking people stared from windows and doorways Venessi appeared in the square and halted, struck as dumb by this towering visitor as the common villagers were She made a gesture for the stranger to halt, and Hederick suddenly realized how short his mother was Of course, he told himself, wouldn't fate enjoy the joke of him, the son, taking after tiny Venessi, whereas Ancilla had inherited Con's height, strength, and good looks? Venessi's faded blond hair, cropped just below her ears, waved in uncertain curls around her round face Her eyes, which appeared green in some light, were frigid blue in the early morning Hederick saw in Venessi's face the same round nose and protruding eyes that he bore "That's your mother?" the priest asked beneath his breath "The round one with the nervous hands?" "That's her." "I'd certainly not take her on unarmed," Tarscenian said sotto voce Hederick waited for Venessi to order the attack Could even a man such as Tarscenian stand long against the united villagers? The priest had spent a few moments earlier in special prayer, muttering rhymes and tracing figures on the ground with colored sand He seemed to think that would evoke his Seeker gods to protect him But Hederick pulled at the stranger's hair "Tarscenian, maybe we should " "Hush, lad I'm well-armed, and with more than a sword." Tarscenian's pack was too small to hold more than food, bedroll, and perhaps a small hand weapon or two "A knife?" "Ah, you disappoint me I am a priest; I have my gods at my back Follow my lead." Tarscenian's head swung to the left "That's the building where the precious icons are stored? The stone-anddaub hovel?" "The prayer house." "It is locked?" "Only from the inside, when someone is within It's for the use of the common folk Mother prays in her own house." The priest grunted Then the convivial Tarscenian of the night before was back "Greetings, people of Garlund!" he boomed "I bring you joyous news! I am Tarscenian, Seeker priest I have news of wondrous gods who can ease your lives of strife and trouble and promise you immortality! "What a splendid community, and what pious residents I am fortunate to have the opportunity to visit with you and bring you the word of the New Gods." "Stranger," Venessi said coldly, "you are not welcome here Nor is this boy." Tarscenian stepped back as if slapped Anger colored his face "You are Venessi—the one who dared to banish this brave lad? This boy who last evening helped me beat off a deadly predator thrice his size? Truly he walks in the grace of the New Gods—yet you reward him with banishment? Don't you care about your soul, Venessi?" Tarscenian stood taller His voice was so deep that it growled like thunder "Have you no idea how much you—and these poor folk who have followed you in innocent trust—have sinned in the eyes of the New Gods? Do you intend to make that sin even greater?" "Kill them," Venessi snarled to the villagers Hederick closed his eyes Certainly Tarscenian could not hold off so many armed villagers No doubt the priest was afraid—he was mumbling distractedly The villagers had formed a ring around Tarscenian, Hederick, and Venessi, but they had not yet made their move Hesitantly, Hederick opened his eyes again "Kill them!" Venessi screamed "Tiolanthe orders it!" The men and women shuffled their feet They exchanged nervous looks, yet none dared act When the Seeker priest finally spoke, his voice was gentle "Good people of Garlund, has Venessi ever shown you a sign from this supposed god, Tiolanthe?" No answer came from the villagers, but Venessi shouted, "I order you to slay them!" Tarscenian ignored her "Has this Tiolanthe appeared to any of you? Has he given you a personal sign of his regard? Have you any evidence that he is more than this deluded woman's imagination?" Furtive looks passed between husbands and wives Venessi's face grew livid in her rage "Begone, stranger!" she shrieked "And take that sinner of a boy with you." "I challenge you, heretic," Tarscenian said, facing her anger with calm confidence "My Seeker gods demand a duel You speak for this Tiolanthe Do you consent to a duel?" Venessi, the paleness of her face giving way to mottled pink and red, gawked around the circle of villagers "Gar-lunders, you are ensorceled!" she cried "He is a witch! You have pledged your lives to me and my god!" "I'm no witch, and no mage, either, Venessi," Tarscenian responded "I am only a priest for the real gods Do you accept my challenge? My gods will act through me, yours through you Or would you prefer to concede defeat now and allow these poor folk to begin working immediately to save their tarnished souls?" "Tiolanthe, destroy him!" Venessi raised her fleshy arms, then gestured toward Tarscenian with a flourish "Destroy them both'." The observers took in a breath and held it—all but Tarscenian He cocked his head like a bird viewing the curious movements of an insect After a time, Venessi lowered her arms and smoothed her dress She looked flushed but stubborn "My god speaks when he chooses, not when heretics demand," she said primly Tarscenian set Hederick upon the ground without comment The priest held his hands skyward and shouted, "Omalthea the Motherlord! Sauvay of the blessed revenge! Cadithal, Ferae, Zeshun! Bring hope to this village! The people here long to know you, to feel your approbation If you are loving gods, give them the sign they so desperately need!" He swung his hands down and out to the sides Fire danced around him in a ring, leaping between him and the watchers "Show them your power!" Tarscenian demanded "Show them that you, unlike their false god, are not afraid to demonstrate your force to those who would believe." The fire ebbed and surged Then it vaulted over the heads of the people and encircled them Flame crackled Tarscenian gestured, and the blaze died "The Seeker gods are prepared to accept you, people of Garlund Renounce this false deity." "No!" Sweat beaded Venessi's red face as she hurled a desperate warning at the villagers "This is a test, you fools! Can't you see that as soon as you accept this cheat's words, you are through? Has my work been for naught? Have you learned nothing?" The people seemed barely to hear her Tarscenian said quietly, "My New Gods have provided further proof, Gar-lunders Open your storehouses At my words, they are full." "But they are empty," one man faltered "We've been rationing " "No longer Seeker gods provide for their faithful Open your storehouses, people of Garlund Behold your new riches." Venessi's eyes bulged, and she made a choking sound As always when she was having a vision, she fell to her knees and groveled in the dust "Tiolanthe, help me!" she cried But this time, the villagers paid her no heed They plucked the keys from her waist, unlocked the swinging doors of the storehouses, and gaped at enough food to feed the village ten times over "Praise the New Gods!" cried one scrawny woman The crowd cheered and surged forward, filling their arms, aprons, and pockets with much-needed foodstuffs Tarscenian directed his next words to Venessi His gray eyes were sympathetic "You may keep your house, Venessi I will take up residence in the prayer house My duty is to tutor the villagers in the true religion Especially brave, wise Hederick." He patted the boy's shoulder "Hederick will be released from field work He is too frail for coarse labor, anyway His talents are more cerebral He will be my assistant." Venessi watched with eyes like stones Silently swearing retribution on the evil child who had gods!" "Didst thou see that?" "What monster would that, and to a child?" Phytos had to shout to make himself heard "How did that happen, woman?" "The boy—such a courageous lad, my Buni—rushed forward to defend his father when the goblins came to take him to the slave yard One of Hederick's hobgoblins cut him badly My husband fought them, giving us time to escape with Buni here, but I fear my husband is dead." The woman burst into fresh tears, cradling the child close to her breast, which had the unfortunate effect of making the wound bleed anew "Oh, my poor, brave, fatherless boy!" Her tears broke off abruptly The young woman felt in her pocket and drew out a small gem— muddy yellow and nearly valueless—which she handed over to Phytos "It's all we have I will give you this gem in return for safe passage Please, kind centaur, help us!" Phytos assured her that the centaurs had no intention of abandoning the bereaved family But Mynx was frowning Something about the woman's story didn't ring true One man—able to fight off a troop of Hederick's trained minions long enough for his wife to escape with a fatally wounded child and a doddering old woman? She gazed at the trio Mist swirled around the centaurs, but wherever Mynx focused, there was no mist She found herself stroking the Diamond Dragon again Her thoughts were remarkably lucid, she noted As clear as the diamonds that decorated the artifact's back The centaurs were undoubtedly moved by the family's plight, but centaurs were markedly susceptible in some areas Being so strikingly handsome themselves, they tended to trust that which was physically perfect And the mournful young mother was pretty indeed The slaves, so recently freed from bondage themselves, also were full of sympathy for a trio who appeared to have suffered at Hederick's hands Mynx smelled magic "Young woman," Mynx said, stepping around a centaur with black skin and green eyes "Where did you live in Solace?" The young mother looked up Something flashed in her eyes as she surveyed Mynx and the Diamond Dragon; then it was gone Her voice remained sweet and low, though throbbing with sorrow "We found a room in the center of town, kind lady Near the town square." "That would have placed you next to the Inn of the Last Home." The woman hesitated, then nodded "You are refugees? You would have enjoyed Otik's hospitality at the Inn, then Otik has a soft spot for the helpless." The fog deepened Mynx stroked the Diamond Dragon again, and the cloud was dispelled The woman glanced at the crone, who nodded almost imperceptibly "Yes," the younger woman said "He does Otik is a kind man." "Do you remember his specialty?" Myry< went on She spoke loudly, her words carrying to the centaurs and human slaves "Otik is noted for his spiced pepper sausage, fried to a crisp and eaten as hot as you can stand it I remember it well Did he share some with your family, woman? He usually does with refugees As I said, he is a generous man." "I " The woman's eyes brimmed over with tears, and she glanced down at her child The fog thickened worse than before, except where Mynx stood "What is this?" burst out a centaur just behind Mynx The centaur's head appeared hazily through the deepening mist "The woman interrogates these poor lost souls when what anyone can see they really need is rest and food and some attention to that child's arm Thou should be ashamed of thyself, Mynx!" Mynx turned slightly, making sure to keep the crone, young woman, and child well in sight "These three are not what they claim to be," she shouted to the centaurs "They seek to delay us! Look!" She pointed to the north, where the straggling group of riderless slaves were just coming into view "Already we have lost precious time, if those with no centaurs to carry them have been able to catch up!" Mynx peered into the frowning faces of the centaurs "I don't know who has sent these three to waylay us, but it is someone whose interests ally with Hederick's Can't you see they are false?" Phytos cantered to her side "Thou would have us abandon these poor folk here, Mynx? They are destitute, as anyone with eyes can see." "Abandon them? I would have you kill them!" The centaurs, and the slaves on their backs, burst out in fresh protests The trio in the path did not move, but the two women glared daggers at Mynx "Let me ask them just one question," Mynx demanded Phytos nodded "One question, then." Mynx faced the trio again "What spice is in Otik's specialty, the one the fried sausage is known for? If you have truly eaten at the Inn of the Last Home, you will know It is an easy question Hurry, now." I " The women exchanged glances The crone frowned at the younger woman, who then turned back to Mynx and snapped, "Pepper! The spice is hot pepper Now can we get some help from you, or will you make us talk all night while my son dies?" "Well?" Phytos asked quietly "Wrong!" Mynx sang out "It's not pepper In fact, it's not even sausage Otik is known throughout Solace for his spiced potatoes Anyone who had ever been near the city would know that Moreover, the Inn is not next to the town square, as this woman said You've been ensorceled, centaurs!" For an instant, the centaurs milled about uncertainly Some drew their bows, while others fingered their war clubs, and still others continued to counsel patience The slaves, even Ceci Vakon, likewise seemed confused Then the fog melted away At that instant, the three fugitives vanished In their places stood three haggard old women Two, Mynx's height, had greenish skin, while the third, at least half again as tall as the others, had a deep blue complexion All bore moles and warts, stringy hair, and withered faces Their teeth were black Their hands ended, not in fingernails, but in long claws that looked to be as strong as iron "Hags!" shouted one of the centaurs "An annis hag and greenhags! Fellow centaurs, Mynx is right We've been magicked! Attack!" The centaur, a slender male carrying a young man, dashed forward The largest hag calmly reached out, clasped the man-horse around the torso with both hands, and crushed him She flung the body away with a laugh, chased down the centaur's rider, and did the same to him "Next?" she taunted, her foul breath polluting the air Three centaurs let fly with arrows at the same instant The hags leaped aside "By the gods," Phytos cried "The speed! The strength!" Another half-dozen centaurs, wielding clubs, leaped toward the hags The wizened crones deftly outran them, closing and grappling when the opportunity arose Soon two slaves and three more centaurs lay crushed on the ground, victims of the annis hag Mynx, caught without a mount in the melee, sought to fight her way to the rear of the surging crowd Finally Phytos grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to one side The other centaurs continued to battle, but the hags were too quick They always managed to sidestep the centaurs' clubs The hags finally drew back Another centaur let an arrow fly, but the greenhags merely disappeared The annis hag deflected the arrow with one hand "They don't need to fight us," Phytos said "They merely seek to delay us Thou wast right, Mynx Hederick must have sent them." "But Hederick hates magic!" Kifflewit cried "Unless he has some necessary use for it," Mynx murmured She probed her memory for information about hags How to stop them? "Where are the two greenhags?" she asked suddenly A cry from the centaurs answered her question One of the centaurs to Mynx's left suddenly grasped his neck, where invisible hands had crushed his windpipe He went down, gagging and kicking The woman who'd been astride him leaped away "Phytos!" Mynx shouted "The gem!" Phytos looked confused "The gem they gave you It's a hag's eye It's magical Destroy it!" Phytos looked in his hand, where the mud-colored jewel still nestled Then he flung it to the ground and stamped upon it with his forehooves Three screams sounded through the forest The annis hag clapped her hands over her eyes "Sisters, I'm blind!" she cried The two greenhags reappeared They, too, were pawing at their eye sockets It took but three centaurs armed with clubs and arrows to slay the hags Mynx found the female centaur who had been carrying her "Hurry!" the thief shouted "We may be too late already!" Her hand reflexively went to her neck, to where she'd placed the Diamond Dragon for safe-keeping Her fingers found nothing Mynx immediately cried out and countermanded her own order The centaurs pulled up, protesting, as Mynx groped under her armor for the Diamond Dragon Perhaps it and its thong had slipped under the armor's gorget, she thought Phytos caught the panicstricken look in her eye and understood immediately "Thou hast lost it?" he cried "The magical artifact?" "I don't know," Mynx returned "I was pushed and shoved in the battle Perhaps it fell off." The centaurs and humans lost valuable time searching for the Diamond Dragon Finally, Kifflewit Burrthistle found it, stomped into the mud "Here it is!" he chirped He bolted over to Mynx and handed it to her with a flourish Hands shaking, she retted it around her neck "Hurry!" she shouted "We've no time to waste." The slaves remounted The centaurs leaped into a canter, and then a gallop Trees flew by To the east, a yellow glow announced the arrival of day Mynx glanced down; the Diamond Dragon sat serenely atop the gorget of her mismatched armor Mynx frowned One of the diamonds was missing She found herself hoping it wouldn't make any difference in the artifact's power At any rate, there was no time to backtrack and search some more "Hurry!" she repeated "Oh, please hurry!" The longtime thief found herself breathing the first prayer of her life Meanwhile, on a nearby centaur, Kifflewit Burrthistle patted one of his pouches Yes, the diamond was still in there It had sure been loose when he picked up the artifact What a lucky thing he had been there to pry the jewel out of its setting and keep it safe Who knew what trouble there might be if it were lost, he thought Outside Tarscenian's cell, footsteps scuffled on the flagstones A temple guard Tarscenian stood and faced the door of his prison cell The footsteps stopped Hands rattled the tiny window in the door and slid it aside Hederick's face peered in at Tarscenian The older man inclined his head and waited for the High Theocrat to speak first "I have come to offer you clemency," Hederick said "Ah But at what price, Hederick?" "Tell me where the Diamond Dragon is," the High Theocrat ordered "If you this, I will let you go." As near as Tarscenian could guess, the magical artifact was probably waltzing through Krynn in the pouch of a carefree kender, but the old man would die before he'd tell Hederick that "I not know, High Theocrat." "Of course you do," Hederick snapped "If I knew where it was, why would I have ventured into the temple? Into your quarters?" Tarscenian asked reasonably He gazed at Hederick There was no sign of the frightened boy he once had been "Remember the giant lynx, Hederick?" Tarscenian asked quietly "Remember how we fought it off together? You fought fair, once." "Don't change the subject," the High Theocrat spat out "If you came into the temple, it must be because the Diamond Dragon is hidden here somewhere That's it, isn't it, Tarscenian? Tell me where it is, and I'll arrange to have my minions transport you safely away from Erolydon." Tarscenian shrugged "As a dead body, no doubt." Hederick drove his fist into the thick door "I will kill you slowly, false priest! I will torture you, I swear It will take you days to die No one defies me Everyone in Solace will witness your humiliation." Tarscenian stood silently "If you think your friends will come and rescue you, you are wrong," Hederick snapped "Even now, three hags devour them in the forest outside Solace." "Ah, Hederick," Tarscenian chided "Stooping to using magic What would your gods think?" It was the High Theocrat's turn to say nothing "I am ready to die, Hederick," Tarscenian told him "I wish to join Ancilla." "Then she is dead." Tarscenian declined to admit he wasn't sure There was still hope of some miracle—and of Ancilla escaping from the tree trunk in the courtyard "Yes, Ancilla is dead." "Where is the Diamond Dragon, Tarscenian?" "I don't know Nor I care." Hederick's tone was silky "I will have you bound to the vallenwood trunk and torn, limb from limb, by the mater-bill." Tarscenian only shrugged at Hederick's threats "By the New Gods, Tarscenian, you will beg for mercy before I am through!" "There are no New Gods, Hederick I told you that long ago, back in Garlund There are only the Old Gods, and they will return someday—perhaps sooner than you know And when they do, Hederick, you will suffer for what you have done." Hederick snorted "One last chance You will not tell me where the Diamond Dragon is?" Tarscenian shook his head "By the New Gods, then, I will tear apart every stone in Erolydon to find it! I built this temple, and I can destroy it if need be!" "As you will, Hederick." The High Theocrat slammed the small window shut A short time later, the temple guards came for Tarscenian Chapter 25 "There's Crystalmir Lake!" Ceci Vakon cried Her mount and Mynx's led the thundering centaurs as they streamed through a clearing just east of the lake and north of Erolydon Then a shadow swooped over the women, and they threw themselves to the ground "Night hunter bats!" Ceci shouted "They're the ones who carried us off to the slavers." "Everyone stay low!" the silver-haired Phytos bellowed "We are challenged!" Within moments, the entire force had taken shelter under low-hanging boughs as a half-dozen of the seven-foot bats swooped near the ground The night-hunters could see well in the dark, but they needed room to maneuver, and the tree branches would hinder their attack "Arrows nocked! Bows ready!" Phytos shouted Mynx crouched with Ceci beneath a pine branch The thief felt several small figures nestle against her, and she realized the kender and Ceci's sons had joined them "Don't be afraid, Kifflewit," Mynx said soothingly "The archers will take care of them The bats certainly make big enough targets." Kifflewit Burrthistle sniffed with contempt "Who's scared? Not me," he said "I just wanted to get closer to the action!" "Fire!" Phytos cried The centaurs let loose with their arrows just as the bats dived into their midst One night hunter managed to get its claws around a centaur, but the man-horse was too heavy for the bat, which nonetheless managed to rake the centaur with its razor-sharp tail before the bat fell dead, pierced by an arrow from Phytos's bow Another night hunter died when it dived heedlessly toward the branch under which Mynx and Ceci Vakon hid With a shout, Mynx leaped out, stabbed at it, and slit the huge beast from throat to tail Ceci darted off, herding her sons under a thicker outcropping of pine boughs Kifflewit Burrthistle let out a war whoop and took off in another direction Phytos led a charge of centaurs as the last four giant bats massed to arc down toward the humans and horse-creatures Clubs beat two of the flying beasts out of the air, and arrows stopped the last pair Soon the four were flopping on the ground in their death throes The centaurs roved among them, using clubs to hasten their deaths The battle had taken only a short time, but the delay was bothersome anyway Mynx ran to Phytos "Look!" she cried, and pointed to the east "The sun is coming up." "Hurry!" the centaur shouted to his troops He cantered, then ran, through the early morning light, while the others rushed to follow A female centaur gave Mynx a hand, pulling the thief onto her back The freed slaves quickly found their mounts and chased after Phytos Through the vallenwoods, they could just see the northern wall of Erolydon gleaming white in the morning sun Chapter 26 Phalanxes of temple guards and priests diverted the crowds of Solace residents and refugees who swarmed toward Erolydon for the dawn service Instead of the Great Chamber, the spectators were surprised to find themselves herded into the eastern courtyard, into the viewing area between the inner and outer walls There was no sign of Hederick Tarscenian stood bound to the trunk of the vallenwood Alone in the center of the courtyard, he seemed curiously at peace "What now?" the people muttered "Did you hear what happened yesterday with the black-robed mage?" "Indeed." "My cousin was there She said the wizard blasted Hederick's heart right out of his chest!" "And yet his gods saved him." "The Seeker gods work mysteriously." "I missed yesterday, so I dared not miss today Who is today's sinner?" "The old man who was with the lady mage who challenged Hederick two days ago." Then the voices hushed as novitiates moved among the crowd, cautioning people that the ceremony was about to begin Two rows of blue-garbed guards entered the courtyard through the main doors to the temple Behind them came Hederick, dressed in ceremonial blue velvet, his pudgy chin up, his face resolute He could not resist a sneer of triumph as he surveyed his longtime enemy helpless upon the vallenwood stump He hadn't had Tarscenian gagged The ex-priest wasn't a formidable enough mage, in Hederick's estimation, to bother with that Besides, the High Theocrat had long dreamed of savoring the dying screams of the false Seeker priest Now he was moments away from that experience Hederick allowed a smile of anticipation to cross his face Then he resumed his usual emotionless demeanor Hederick pivoted on one sandaled heel and stepped smartly to the reviewing stand, erected safely behind a marble wall He mounted the steps, strode to a velvet-draped lectern, and, with head bowed, delivered the invocation of the Seeker gods that began all Seeker services Then he looked up and addressed the people "This morning heralds a special day," Hederick intoned "It is a holy time, a time of reblessing, of renewing Erolydon's sacred charge Of making clean that which has been sullied." "What?" some people in the crowd whispered "What happened?" "Some centaurs snuck into the temple." "Ah, no!" " 'Tis true; Hederick's own high priest let them in." "Was he daft?" " 'Tis said he hoped to honor Hederick by sacrificing them within Erolydon itself." "Fool." "Blessed Seekers of Solace," Hederick shouted, "I present one of the greatest sinners I have yet encountered Greater than any witch, than any mage, than any spell-caster, indeed For his sin involves " Hederick waited for the crowd's murmurings to die away "For this man threw away opportunity that prayerful people would gladly die for Tarscenian, whom you see before you, had the entire kingdom of the Seeker pantheons before him He was blessed by the Seeker gods and goddesses He was himself a Seeker priest." "Ah," several people whispered "That's the man I'd heard Hederick was searching for someone." "The goblins have been busy these last few days I did not allow my children outside at all, for fear of them." "This man, this Tarscenian, threw off the Seeker faith," Hederick said "He gave up—tossed aside! —the holy brown robes of the Seeker priest And, not content with that sin, he went on to find a new altar to worship at—the profane altar of the Old Gods." The people cried out Hederick held up his hands, palms outward, until they quieted "And still not satisfied, this evil soul entered into a filthy liaison with a witch Together they devoted their lives to halting the Seekers They have sought to impede me for years— unsuccessfully, of course The woman died as a result of my holy inquisition"—Tarscenian started in surprise at Hederick's explanation of Ancilla's demise—"but the man, Tarscenian, escaped." Hederick swept his arm toward the figure strapped to the tree trunk "This man, people of Solace, would have denied you your only hope of salvation! He would wipe the Seekers, and the comforts of their holy order, from the world!" Again the noise from the crowd rose and ebbed "But I " Hederick smiled grimly, waiting for the chatter to abate "I, guided by the hand of my god Sauvay and the rest of the blessed pantheons, I was too clever for one who follows the betrayer gods Sauvay himself warned me of Tarscenian's plot, and I laid a crafty trap—a trap that, only last night, the unrepentant sinner Tarscenian fell into!" Hederick held out a hand to Dahos, who had waited silently at the base of the reviewing stand The high priest climbed the steps and joined the High Theocrat The Plainsman's face was colorless and set "This priest," Hederick said, "has also sinned He admitted to the holy temple Erolydon those creatures who sullied it by their very presence He sinned in a great way, but he has sought forgiveness for that sin Thus, in my generosity, I have acquitted him." The High Theocrat nodded formally at the high priest, who returned the gesture but did not meet his superior's eyes "Nonetheless, forgiven or not, it is necessary to reconsecrate the temple," Hederick continued "We are here today to ask the Seeker gods to cleanse it with their holy blessings To that purpose you are witness this morning And to that purpose the blood of a sinner will stain the cobblestones of Erolydon's courtyard." Hederick turned to Dahos "Release the materbill," he commanded The tall priest hurried to the pulley that controlled the door to the monster's prison Dahos worked the ropes, and soon the fiery-maned creature appeared, howling, in the doorway between the dungeon and the courtyard All of a sudden another sound vied with the mater-bill's roars The spectators turned from side to side as the sound of a hundred hooves, thundering toward the northern wall of the courtyard, inundated them "What is it?" a woman cried out "More hobgoblins?" Then the people screamed in terror, ducking as the first dozen centaurs, led by Phytos, hurtled to the top of the outer wall, then leaped from there to the inner wall They plunged into the arena with Tarscenian Another dozen centaurs mounted by freed slaves followed, and a dozen more "Halt!" called Phytos The mounted slaves jumped off the centaurs then, and swarmed over the inner wall and into the spectators As the slaves threw themselves at temple guards and goblins alike, the centaurs formed a mass and approached Tarscenian There was another roar as the last of the freed slaves, who had traveled more slowly because they'd had no centaurs to ride, came dashing out of the trees and helped each other clamber up the wall Two of the slaves raced along the wall and tackled a stubborn hobgoblin guard Two more slaves used the creature's own sword to overcome it Other slaves sprinted along the inner and outer walls Many of the freed slaves, both men and women, fell lifeless to the cobblestones, pierced through by swords and spears Again as many were able to arm themselves from the bodies of the slain victims and race back into battle against the goblins and guards "For Solace!" some of them bellowed Mynx stood as straight and proud as she could in her armor, riding on the back of her centaur "Tarscenian!" she cried "I have the Diamond Dragon!" She broke the thong around her neck and held the glittering artifact up to the morning sun People gasped at the sheer radiance of the object The centaurs formed a living shield around her as Mynx edged her centaur toward the captive "Hold it against the vallenwood!" Tarscenian cried "Ancilla is inside!" Although she wasn't sure what he meant, Mynx leaned over and placed the warm artifact against the vallenwood's roughness "Ancilla, here it is, the thing we sought for so many decades," Tarscenian shouted "We have the Diamond Dragon now!" The trunk of the vallenwood began to glow, and Mynx heard the same humming sound that had torn at her when she was trapped inside the Diamond Dragon Surprised, she fell back As soon as the artifact broke contact with the tree, the glow died away "Hold it there, Mynx!" Tarscenian ordered "Let nothing pull you away, no matter what happens!" Mynx did as he instructed The incandescence and the drone resumed She closed her eyes and waited But nothing more happened She looked at the old man One of the centaurs had cut his bonds, and he had mounted the largest of the men-horses "Something is wrong," he shouted "It should have worked by now." A grimace of defeat crossed his exhausted features "Perhaps Ancilla is dead after all." Mynx examined the Diamond Dragon "There's a stone missing," she said suddenly, pointing to the arti-fact's back "Could that be it?" Tarscenian nodded "Where is it?" he asked eagerly She shrugged helplessly "It was all right before we were attacked by the hags Maybe during the battle, we lost it somehow " Tarscenian's face fell At that moment, the materbill, who had been all but forgotten in the commotion, leaped forward with a roar, directly attacking the centaurs People cried out, and the centaurs broke ranks "Kill the infidel! Kill Tarscenian!" Hederick shouted to one of the guards flanking him on the reviewing stand In a moment, the guard's bow was up, an arrow nocked In another instant, the arrow flew toward the vallenwood tree Mynx's centaur sensed its approach and lunged against Tarscenian's mount And then Mynx, not Tarscen-ian, was down, lost among the legs of the centaurs, clutching her bloodsoaked right arm, the one that still held the Diamond Dragon Tarscenian found the sword of a dead guard pressed into his hand by a centaur "Murderer!" the old man cried at the High Theocrat "It is you who are the infidel, Hederick!" Then he was plowing through the crowd, fighting through dozens of guards toward Hederick The centaurs let loose a volley of arrows, and the materbill howled in agony The air was filled with smoke and flames, the screams of dying guards and centaurs, and the terrified cries of hundreds of spectators The freed slaves were fighting hand to hand with goblins Some spectators cheered them on, howling whenever a goblin went down and rushing forward to tear the unfortunate creature limb from limb Kifflewit Burrthistle darted through the riot to Mynx's side It was the kender who was able to rouse the wounded thief enough to half-drag, half-push her away from the tumult to the relative safety of the vallenwood tree "There's something wrong with it," she lamented, her eyes glassy "With the Diamond Dragon, kender We lost one of the diamonds, Kifflewit By the gods, how could we have been so stupid?" The kender's head shot up, startled brown eyes searching hers "Lost it? But I have it, Mynx," he finally said Kifflewit was uncharacteristically somber for a moment "The diamond was loose I I found it I was afraid we'd lose it." He cheered up "Lucky I did, Mynx It's safe in my pouch Everything will be all right! I have it." Not for the first time, Mynx had to control an urge to strangle the kender "So where is it?" The kender peered through the sea of humans and centaurs, goblins and guards, battling around them Gouts of flame from the dying materbill lit up the courtyard at odd intervals "I dropped my pouches when I came to rescue you -There they are! And there's the one with the gemstone! I remember, it was the red pouch with the blue string." He pointed triumphantly but seemed disinclined to budge from Mynx's side "Get the diamond, kender!" Kifflewit scuttled off through the bedlam without a backward glance Phytos battled nearby, protecting Tarscenian's flank Mynx shouted until the violet-eyed centaur turned her way "Help me up, Phytos," she commanded She put the Diamond Dragon into the centaur's hand and clambered awkwardly onto his back, her right arm dangling at her side She strained for a glimpse of Kifflewit Burrthistle At first nothing but dust and tangled bodies greeted her eyes Then there he was, scooting across the courtyard and through the chaos like a rabbit The materbill writhed not more than an arm's length from the kender's red and blue pouch, but Kifflewit dashed right up and grabbed it He held up his hand and waved to Mynx She raised her left arm "Throw it, Kifflewit!" she shouted The kender may not have heard the words, but he understood the gesture He flung the missing diamond across the courtyard Mynx caught it deftly in her left hand and quickly replaced it in the figurine of the Diamond Dragon With Phytos shouting encouragement, she pressed the glittering artifact against the vallenwood This time the droning and glowing far overwhelmed what they had experienced before Mynx cast a triumphant look back at Kifflewit—just as the materbill roared one last time and died The last Mynx saw of him, Kifflewit Burrthistle was looking bewildered as his clothes went up in flames "Kender!" she cried And then the vallenwood exploded Chapter 27 The explosion knocked Tarscenian off the centaur and onto his back Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Diamond Dragon arc through the noon sunlight, shedding sparks in gold, yellow, and white The dragon figurine hovered in midair Tarscenian realized that its paper-thin wings were moving, beating, and the artifact's head was twisting this way and that Heder-ick cried out, and Tarscenian saw that the High Theocrat's gaze was on the Diamond Dragon, too Then the tiny ruby eyes of the diminutive steel dragon spied Tarscenian It dived to his shoulder, its diamonds sparkling in the sun Hederick called out in fury Tarscenian drew his sword and once more plunged toward the High Theocrat Hederick was looking elsewhere now—nearly straight up, above Tarscenian The High Theocrat's face was distorted with anger and horror Tarscenian spun around The stump was gone In its place rose Ancilla as the Presence—the vision of a woman and a dragon combined She had the eyes of a snake and an aura of undreamed-of magical power The being was twice as tall as Erolydon, and the lance that flowed from her midsection was thirty feet long The miniature dragon on Tarscenian's shoulder gave an unmistakable cry of joy and flew toward Ancilla Soon it was perching on her shoulder, too small to be seen from the ground, except for an occasional flash of yellow, blue, or red from one of its gemstones Tarscenian had nearly reached Hederick Several dozen guards had joined the High Theocrat on the stand Under their combined weight, the wooden structure swayed and suddenly collapsed Hederick dived off one end and rushed into the temple Tarscenian could see him peering up at Ancilla from behind one of Erolydon's main doors The Seeker priest hysterically shouted orders to his guard captains, to his goblins, to anyone who would listen His bowmen showered arrows on Ancilla, but the Presence shed the projectiles like so much sand The Presence raised its mighty spear, described a circle with the tip, and shouted "On respayhee vallenntrayna!" Its tail lashed the air, knocking over part of the inner wall "On respayhee vallenntrayna Come forth, my brethren!" The voice of the,Presence came from everywhere People sensed it rather than heard it with their ears The tops of the surrounding vallenwoods trembled and jerked "On respayhee vallenntrayna." Leaves showered the stampeding occupants of the temple A sudden wind sent the leaves whirling around the courtyard "On respayhee vallenntrayna." "Valiant mages of the White Robes, I return your powers Let them course for the good!" Upon Ancilla's call, more than three dozen vallen-woods glowed at their bases People fighting atop Eroly-don's marble walls froze, then pointed at the trees "I call you from your vallenwood protectors I thank you, venerable trees, for sheltering those who would fight for the New Gods But now these wizards are needed here! "Carosanden tyhenimus califon!" Then the courtyard was filled with mages White robes swirled as thirty-nine freed spellcasters chanted and spread their magical powders and herbs White robes flashed like sails as the mages unleashed spell after spell A goblin exploded near the dead materbill Another fell, screaming, beneath a suddenly toppling wall Freed slaves killed a hobgoblin, and the crowd another Her right arm dangling uselessly, Mynx pushed through the crowd to where she'd last seen Kifflewit Burrthistle She found only a few charred pouches and the kender's tiny cloak There was no time to mourn the kender, however A goblin bore down on Mynx with the promise of death in its eyes She raised her sword in her left hand She'd never fought left-handed, but she'd die trying "Cantihgnasf'ir wertnen pi!" A bolt of blue lightning, spitting fire, shot over Mynx's head and severed the mace-swinging goblin at its midsection "Antin mrok mon midled alt'n." Another bolt, green this time, arced toward Mynx; her right arm was encased in green fire When the glow receded, the wounded arm was bandaged, the pain gone Ancilla as Presence was just lowering her claws from casting the spell as Mynx looked back With her left hand, Mynx raised her swordtip to her helm and nodded The Presence gravely nodded back The Diamond Dragon sparkled on her shoulder And then suddenly the centaurs and mages had goblins and hobgoblins alike on the run The few temple guards who survived fled with them Erolydon's perimeter fell into rubble The Presence's image flickered, so that one moment Tarscenian saw a woman, then a lizard, a snake, then a dragon, and once again a woman "Hederick Face me I am Ancilla Face me." A dragon stood where Ancilla had been Hederick remained behind the temple doors Ancilla sighed, and leaves swirled once more around the courtyard Her image flickered to that of a snake "Hederick, I summon you I have the power You no longer have the Diamond Dragon It is back with me I summon you! "Cariwon velpacka om tui rentahten-Hederick." The temple door opened The rotund priest stood there, his robe streaked with dust As he stepped unsteadily through the portal, Ancilla—now a woman garbed in white, but double the height of the crumbling temple— pointed a finger at the entryway It collapsed behind him "Admit your pain, Hederick Face it, welcome it And then throw it aside Your gods are but a figment of this pain Embrace the Old Gods, the true gods, and you may still be saved They may forgive, although you have done much to anger them She was a dragon again Hederick merely stretched a hand toward his sister and shrieked, "Witch!" "The Diamond Dragon is gone from you now, little brother It has returned to me, its rightful mistress You cannot use its charisma to charm and snare the people any longer." Ancilla's image took on the form of a snake, then a woman, and again a lizard The image gestured toward Solace with the lance "See how they have left you, Hederick Even your high priest has fled to the village Solace has no use for you anymore Even your guards and aides desert you Where are your goblins, your other foul creatures? My brother and sister mages slaughtered them as they stood Hederick moved toward the huge lizard that called itself his sister "I am the High Theocrat of Solace," he shouted "I will be the greatest Seeker on Krynn There is no one who can stop me! I will be a god! And you cannot stop me, Ancilla." Ancilla's dragon eyes glittered at the man "You will stop yourself, Hederick I will not have to." "Impossible." "Sauveha deitista, wrapaho yt vontuela." Out of the rubble of the temple rotunda rose a curl of mist, and then another Hederick turned and cried out The mist coalesced into the figure of a massive man, who grew until he was equally as large as Ancilla His shoulders were corded, his face broad and heartless Hederick fell to his knees "Sauvay!" he cried "Punish this witch." Ancilla continued chanting The apparition raised its arms above its head and opened its mouth A new voice throbbed through the courtyard—a deep one, whose words matched the movements of the godlike apparition Hederick, Erolydon is foul You have spread filth upon my name "My lord Sauvay?" Hederick stammered "The temple is a tribute to you I built it only for your glory." No, Hederick You built it for your own glory And now you must destroy it "Destroy Erolydon?" Hederick whispered Ancilla's Presence began to flicker faster than ever Mynx looked at Tarscenian The old man, his face haggard with fatigue, nodded with understanding "She's weakening," he said "She's losing control." Even as he spoke, Ancilla took the form of a lizard, then a snake, then a woman, and a lizard again "She cannot control the god apparition and her own at the same time." Burn Erolydon, the fake Sauvay commanded Destroy it now Or I will destroy it, and you with it! The other mages continued chanting at Ancilla's feet Hederick's minions were gone by now, either dead or fleeing Chanting grew louder in the courtyard, and the building shook with a series of crashes One of the pillars worked loose and toppled between the Presence and Hed-erick Hederick whirled and vanished into Erolydon Within moments, a new explosion tore through the temple Flames rose from the back of the building, from the area of the Great Chamber "He's setting off the special powders!" Tarscenian shouted "The ones the priests use to impress their followers." "Will that be enough to destroy the building?" Mynx asked "More than enough." "Tarscenian, my love." "Ancilla?" "I am weakening The building will explode soon You must get Hederick out of there." "Let him die, Ancilla!" Mynx cried "He has killed hundreds of people." "Perhaps thousands," Tarscenian said quietly But his eyes were resigned "I will hold the building safe as long as I can, Tarscenian Get him Hederick may yet recant I would not have my brother die a heretic to the Old Gods I made my vow." The image of Ancilla began flickering so fast now that it was visible only as a column of glittering light Tarscenian raced into Erolydon, Mynx close behind him They darted around fallen columns and arches, and were halfway down what remained of the corridor when Mynx screamed and pointed upward "Tarscenian, look out!" A blazing tapestry detached slowly from the wall The flaming curtain fell directly toward the two, who threw themselves into a doorway Soon the corridor was filled with flame Ancilla was calling to Hederick from the courtyard, encouraging him to come out of Erolydon now that he'd set in place the powder that would destroy it "Never!" came the High Theocrat's voice from the smoke before them "You are evil!" "I am the only good you ever knew." The sound of laughter from Hederick "You will die at the hands of evil forces if you not embrace the true gods now, Hederick." "I am the embodiment of good I will die here, in my holy temple," Hederick rejoined He sounded almost giddy at the prospect "Sauvay will gather me to him." Tarscenian threw himself into the hallway and dashed through the blaze Mynx followed The vallenwood Great Chamber was filled with smoke, but the dense wood had not yet burst into flame The statues of Omalthea and the rest of the pantheons were smoldering in the heat Mynx and Tarscenian could see the open crates of red and yellow powder that the High Theo-crat had piled around each statue Hederick stood at the top of the pulpit His hands were up, his lips moving, but no sounds came out Then, the silent benediction over, the High Theocrat bowed to the empty benches He beamed and smiled and nodded like a potentate accepting accolades from adoring subjects Then Hederick began to descend the flights of steps, slowly and regally, still nodding to each side as though he were leaving to the roar of a standing ovation "Tarscenian! I cannot hold the building much longer." Goaded by Ancilla's call, Tarscenian and Mynx raced up the steps Between them, they wrestled the portly High Theocrat onto Tarscenian's shoulders, then fled down the steps and out the lakeside door The moment they stepped into the sunshine, Erolydon erupted into a volcano of block, flame, and ash Mynx and Tarscenian went flying into the trampled grass of the western courtyard They came to rest against a section of standing wall and burrowed against it When the explosion died away, the two lifted their heads There was no sign of Hederick They made their way around what was left of the steaming building Every now and then, more fires would explode Soon Mynx and Tarscenian didn't even flinch at the continuing eruptions "What are you looking for?" Mynx asked Tarscenian after the old man climbed carefully from one jagged block of marble to another The tall man surveyed the littered courtyard The bodies of Hederick's forces as well as those of a few mages lay sprawled between him and the column that marked where the front gate used to be Tarscenian gestured "There There she is." Mynx saw a huddled figure in a white robe Scars of flame marred the cobblestones on every side but did not touch the body, the robe, or the cascades of curly gray hair As they watched, something shiny crept onto the figure's shoulder The flash of a diamond brightened the battle scene With a metallic cry, the tiny jeweled dragon launched into the air Tarscenian bowed his head "It would never have left her if she were alive," he said softly "Not willingly." His gray eyes were haunted The Diamond Dragon darted like a silver hummingbird over the desolation Now and then it dived toward the ground, touched the cobblestones with its clawed feet, and arced back upward again It performed the act at least twenty times Then the magical creature moved outside the site of the former temple building and repeated the ritual In each spot, a tendril of green appeared As Tarscenian and Mynx gazed on, each tendril became a thick stem, then a sapling The saplings stretched toward the sky, thickened, and Mynx recognized the bark of vallenwoods The Diamond Dragon circled overhead, alternately swooping down to observe its handiwork, then soaring back up above the rapidly spreading tree limbs It plummeted once more to Ancilla's body and settled itself into the angle of her neck, nuzzling the tangle of hair The metallic creature gave one last cry, and both woman and dragon vanished Chapter 28 "Erolydon is destroyed, the priests and novitiates scattered Even if Hederick has survived, the Highseekers Council in Haven would be fools to give him such power again." Tarscenian paused and considered before continuing "At least I hope so That's one of the things I hope to persuade the Highseekers." Mynx and Tarscenian were making their way along the road to Haven "You think Hederick might still be alive, then?" "Ancilla swore never to hurt him Her word meant everything to her Yes, I believe Hederick survived." Mynx turned that over in her mind "Do you think they will give you a fair listening in Haven?" "From what I hear, Elistan will turn me an unbiased ear, but the rest of the Highseekers I don't know." Tarscenian shook his head "I am, after all, a fallen Seeker priest That will weigh heavily with them, I'm afraid How heavily, we can only wait and see Over the years, Ancilla and I grew accustomed to defeat when reason predicted success." Mynx turned her attention elsewhere She stroked the armor that Tarscenian had bartered for her before they'd left Solace It was missing a few pieces, but the pieces that were there matched each other—and fit her perfectly "Tarscenian," Mynx said suddenly as she and the swordsman rode on through the late afternoon sunshine "Hederick and Ancilla were brother and sister Why were they so different? How could anyone be so evil as Hederick?" Tarscenian raised one eyebrow "He believes he is good What he has never understood is that some of the greatest harm in the world has been done by people convinced that they, too, were doing good." "Nonetheless " "Nonetheless, Mynx, you are right Hederick has caused great suffering, as you have said." Tarscenian frowned and gazed at the pommel of his saddle while he sorted out his thoughts "At some point in people's lives," the old man finally said slowly, "if they live well, they have to take stock of what is true and what is illusion They must this honestly Once they have gazed at what is darkest within their beings, they must move resolutely on—casting off the shadow of illusion and living as best they can in the light of what they have learned to be true This takes great courage I'm afraid Hederick was never brave or honest enough to that, Mynx." "And you have done this?" "I did it in a tiny village called Garlund, on the prairie just west of the Garnet Mountains And I have done it daily since then." I'm not sure I understand this, Tarscenian." "It's a long ride to Haven, Mynx We'll have plenty of time to talk." * * * * * Tarscenian and Mynx certainly were making fast time, Kifflewit Burrthistle thought as he bounded along the Solace-Haven road "Won't the two of them be surprised to see me, though!" he said to himself, chuckling His pockets were full again The people rushing pell-mell from the exploding temple had paid little attention to a kender running alongside them They'd paid even less attention to their pocketbooks and pouches He'd lost most of his own pouches and their contents when the materbill roared fire It was lucky that he'd found—so soon!—so many wonderful things to replace them with "Even a few new pouches," he murmured * * * * * A few nights later, red and silver moonlight glinted off the helms of twenty goblins and one hobgoblin as they watched a portly man approach He carried himself like a king, double chin up haughtily, bulging eyes cold over bulbous nose, and a permanent sneer on his mouth "Still thinkhe we servants," one goblin muttered "Seekerfool." "Shutup, morefool," the chain-mailed hobgoblin leader snapped Hederick's foot caught against one of the chunks of blackened marble that littered the area, and he stumbled Only a short time after the fire, and already the forest was reclaiming the scarred land At this rate, within months there would be no sign of what had once been the greatest wonder of the Seekers, Hederick thought bitterly "Magic," he said suddenly "Even in death, the witch ensorcels me, steals back my Erolydon But she could not kill me Ha, not she! Sauvay saved me." Hederick stumbled again "Drunksick," the talkative goblin murmured "All-thetime now, drunksick he If we atehim, weget drunk-sick, too, certain He not last long under Highlord, certain." A companion guffawed, the hobgoblin hissed another warning, and both goblin soldiers fell silent They waited in the ruins and marked the High Theocrat's irregular progress Finally Hederick stood before them He spoke first, slurring his words but eliminating none of the contemptuous tone "I see you have found reinforcements Good I have another task for you: Eliminate Dahos He has outgrown his usefulness to me His incompetence brought about the destruction of my Erolydon I cannot trust Dahos Or anybody." "Needmore steel coins then, muchmore." Hederick lurched against a piece of marble "I've told you, you idiot, that all my money has gone to bribe the Highseekers in Haven They will rule in my favor All but Elistan, the fanatic, but he'll be a lone voice I will remain High Theocrat of Solace, and there will be plenty of money to pay you later But you'll have to wait." "You notgo away You owe we! Owe plenty!" The hobgoblin towered over Hederick "You notgo away." "Of course not." Hederick hiccoughed "Where would I go? I shall remain in the old Seeker chapel in Solace My priests are returning, even Dahos, and a few new novitiates." Hederick's attention wandered He seemed to be talking more to himself than to the hobgoblin and its comrades "I still preach to the townspeople morning and evening, and they support my needs Sauvay smiles upon me I have bribe money enough Imagine: Krynn—a Seeker theocracy, with me at its head! I will emerge victorious yet." Hederick shot them an unfocused look "You will be wealthy enough then, vermin." One of the goblins in the back erupted in what could have been a cough or a laugh, hastily muffled The hobgoblin put a mailed hand on the hilt of its sword and glared equally at Hederick and the goblins In response, Hederick's hand went to his chest, felt briefly for something, then fell away empty For a moment, his watery blue eyes shone with fear Then his eyelids drooped, and he staggered away from the goblins without comment or dismissal A silver flask appeared in his hand His words drifted back in the night air "So what if it's gone, I don't need it, I don't need her I don't need anybody!" Epilogue Astitms, leader of the Order of Aesthetics, surveyed the scribes before him and permitted a halfsmile to grace his face for a fraction of a moment Then it relaxed again into sternness Shortly before, Olven, Eban, and Marya had completed the manuscript, cut the scroll into uniform lengths, and bound the leaves into a book That now book lay atop Astinus's desk in his private cell He patted the tome as he addressed the scribes— now two, not three "You have done good work," he said "You are apprentices no longer, but assistant scribes Welcome." Eban sighed in relief But Marya said, "Where is Olven, master?" Astinus didn't answer right away Instead, the historian slipped off the stool, picked up the Hederick volume, and placed it on the wooden cart by the doorway Later in the day, an assistant would list the book in the library's records and assign it a place on the already overloaded shelves "Olven decided that he preferred a life out in the world," Astinus said after he returned to the stool "We talked long He felt chafed by the strictures he found here Olven decided that he could not be happy for long if he were merely recording history He is, I believe, on his way to Solace." Eban's freckled face appeared mystified, but Marya suddenly smiled "And you, Marya?" Astinus asked her gently "Can you remain here?" The woman nodded "For the time being," she whispered "1 have things to learn first, before going my own way Perhaps eventually I will follow Olven." Eban looked from one to the other without comprehension But the historian and the female scribe exchanged glances of perfect understanding ... to a slave camp." There was a pause, then soft laughter from the High Theocrat "I can tell that the sentence pleases my god Sauvay and the Motherlord Omalthea Just listen to the happy rumblings... glinted off the gold threads interwoven with the mink-brown silk of the High Theocrat' s robe Dahos, Hederick' s high priest, remained standing by the entrance Crealora marked the despised Theocrat' s... remained in the courtyard with Crealora They were the five who had tittered when she'd ridiculed the High Theocrat Metal creaked Crealora and the men turned their eyes toward the temple Hederick,